The inhabitants of the Balearic Islands are said to have been the inventors of slings, and to have managed them with surprising dexterity, owing to the manner of bringing up their children. The children were not allowed to have their food by their mothers till they had first struck it with their sling.
~Vegetius, De Re Militari, late 4th century

Nadal: the last Balearic Slinger, the ultimate product of natural selection. Feel the weight of the centuries in the Topspin from Hell!

Quality last game there. Safin just gave up, slapping every ball as hard as possible like some whiny 14yr old. On match point he didn't even bother making any movement for Robredo's (midpace) serve. That's really shoddy, have some class ffs.

He should retire now, this is worse than any normal decline of an old champion.